Mengzi Martyrs’Cemetery, Honghe

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The Martyrs’ Cemetery of Mengzi (蒙自烈士陵园) is located on the eastern side of Xiaoxinzai Reservoir (小新寨水库) in the southern suburb of Mengzi County (蒙自县), Yunnan Province. It was first built in 1979, covering an area of 55,836 square meters, with all buildings constructed in the style of traditional Chinese gardens.

The cemetery’s main gate is in the form of a memorial archway, with the plaque inscribed “Martyrs’ Cemetery of Mengzi (蒙自烈士陵园)” written by Comrade Song Renqiong (宋任穷). Entering the gate, one arrives at the Memorial Square, where a 13.5-meter-high Revolutionary Martyrs’ Monument stands. The monument bears eight golden characters inscribed by Comrade Deng Xiaoping (邓小平): “Revolutionary Martyrs Are Immortal” (革命烈士永垂不朽).

Basic Information

• Chinese Name: 蒙自烈士陵园
• Location: Southern suburb of Mengzi County (蒙自县), Yunnan Province
• Established: 1979
• Area: 55,836 square meters

Cemetery Introduction

Beyond the monument lies the martyrs’ burial area, where 430 martyrs rest in peace, including Li Xin (李鑫), Du Tao (杜涛), Ju Bainian (巨柏年), Li Qi (李启), He Junlin (何军林), and others from 24 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. They sacrificed their lives during the Land Revolution War, the War of Liberation, and border defense battles.

Among them, more than 290 were martyrs from the 13th Army who died in the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War, including over 20 supporting militia from Kaiyuan City (开远市), Yunnan Province.

In front of the burial area, on the north and south sides, are the Revolutionary Martyrs’ Ash Storage Room and the Exhibition Hall of Revolutionary Martyrs’ Deeds, which house the ashes of 71 martyrs.

The cemetery also includes pavilions, reception rooms, and parking facilities. Surrounded by green pines and cypress trees, it provides a serene resting place for the martyrs. Since its establishment, it has become an important site for the public to pay tribute to revolutionary heroes.

Buried Martyrs

A total of 427 martyrs are buried in the cemetery, including:

• 291 from the Sino-Vietnamese War (1979)
• 135 who died in bandit suppression, illness, or public service
• 1 from the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Vietnam

By place of origin:

• Liaoning: 1, Hunan: 1, Unknown: 1
• Guangxi: 2, Jiangxi: 2, Shaanxi: 2
• Fujian: 3, Hebei: 3, Shanghai: 3
• Hubei: 6, Zhejiang: 7, Guangdong: 8
• Jiangsu: 11, Chongqing: 15, Shanxi: 18
• Shandong: 20, Henan: 21, Anhui: 26
• Guizhou: 38, Sichuan: 90, Yunnan: 149

Battle Heroes

Two distinguished battle heroes are buried in the cemetery:

• Martyr Li Qi (李启): A Yi (彝族) soldier from Fumin County (富民县), Yunnan Province, serving in Unit 35234, Squad 61. He enlisted in January 1979 and was killed in action on February 23, 1979, at Hill 369, at the age of 18. Awarded first-class merit, he was granted the honorary title of “Battle Hero” (战斗英雄) by the Central Military Commission.
• Martyr He Junlin (何军林): A soldier from Hongya County (洪雅县), Sichuan Province, serving in Unit 35235, Squad 53, and a member of the Communist Party of China. He died in February 1979 at the age of 22. Awarded first-class merit, he was posthumously honored as a second-class “Battle Hero” (战斗英雄) by the Military Region and praised as a “Steel Warrior” (钢铁战士).